Weft-detecting mechanism



Aug. 17 1926.

A. A. GORDON WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2 1925 7 &

:ziwcw-rova ALBERTA. GORDON M1 Y'WGJ ATTORN Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

'NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALBERT A. GORDON, 0F \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed. January This invention relates to automatic weft.

replenishing looms of the type in which a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes are prois picked to the magazlne end of the lay.

In furtherance of this object, I provide. a separate detecting device for each shifting shuttle box and I also provide selective means to move said detecting devicesto detecting position in accordance with the sequence of movements of the drop boxes.-

My invention further relates to improved devices for transmitting indications from the weft detecting devices and to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particul'arly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. l'is a plan view of parts of a drop box loom embodying my improvements;

- mechanism may be 0 Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts shown in'section and others omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional side elevation, taken along the line 3-3 in'Fig. 1; i Fig, 4 is a detail sectional elevation taken alongthe line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of certain parts, looking in the direction of the arrow '5 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of certain parts of one of the weft detecting devices.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a portion of a loom side 10, a breast beam 11, and a lay 12 having a lay end 13 in which is mounted a drop box frame 14 which is shown as provided withthree separate shutthe boxes 15. Each box is provided with a binder 16 and binder spring 17 of the usual type. The drop box frame, 14' is mounted upon a lifter rod 18 connected to the usual lifter mechanism of'a drop boxloom. This t a y Well know r WEFT-DETECTING MECHANISM;

24., 1925. Serial No. 4,552.

suchas that shown in, the prior patent to Ryon No. 820,018, issued May 6, 1906.

Brackets 20 and 21 are secured to the upper and lower faces of the drop box frame 14 and provide bearings for a vertical shaft 22 on which a series of three detector stands 23, 24 and 25 are pivotally mounted. A coil spring 26is provided for each stand 23, 24 and 25 and these springs act to yieldingly move the stands-t0 the inoperative position in which the stand 24 is shown in Fig. 1.

I will now describe the mechanism for selectively moving the detectorstands to op-.

erative positions in-accordance with the sequence of For this purpose, the stands 23, 24 and 25 areprovided with actuating rods 27 connected at one end by universal joints 28 to thedetector stands and slidably supported near the opposite ends in bearing members 29 which in turn are pivoted in a swivel frame 30 mounted to swing upon a vertical axis in a bracket 31 fixed to the breast beam The swivel support-of the rods 27 on the movements of the drop boxes.

breast beam permits the rods to swingin a horizontal plane with the movements of the lay and also to move vertically in accordance' with changes in .the positions of the drop boxes.

"The selective device for positioning the detector stands comprises a bracket 33 fixed to the breast beam 11 and providing upper and lower bearings for a stud 34. Arms 35 and 36 are fixed to. the stud 34'and a pin 37 is mounted on the: arm 36. and extends upward through an opening in the arm 35. A coil spring 38 engages a portion of the bracket 33 at one end. and a collar 39 on the stud 34 at the other end and acts to swing the arm 36 yieldingly to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, until it engages a'stop screw40. p I

VAn actuating plate 41 is slidable vertically on the stud 34 and pin 37 and is fixed to a rod 42 slidable in the arms 35 and 36.

spring 43 yieldingly holds the plate ii iii echanism. (n sh wn) by wh s hth Pl te I shown.

.recessior opening 62..1 ntowhich.one cf the Q see 249 41 is moved upward or downward to correspond with the indicated changes in position of the drop box frame 14 and shuttle boxes 15.

The mechanism forselectively moving the rod 4-2 forms no part of my present invention and may be of the construction fully shown and described in the prior patent to Ryon, No. 1,205,792, issued November 21, 1916. For the purpose of this application, it is sufficient to state that the plate 41 will be moved vertically whenever a'shifting of the drop boxes is indicated and preferably before the box shifting occurs.

The plate 4-1 has three vertical positions corresponding to the three vertical positions of the drop box frame and in each of these positions it is adapted to engage one of therods 27 by which the. detector stands are positioned.

lVhen the lay is in its rearward position, the arm 36 swings to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 1, in which position it engages the stop screw 40 and in which-position also the plate 41 may be moved vertically without interference with the-rods 27. As the lay 1 2 thereafter moves forward, a lug or projection 45 (Fig. 1) on the front ofthe lay engages the cam arm 36, swinging the arm to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and simultaneouslycausing the plate 4-1 toengage one of the rods 27 and to force the same to the left, swinging one of the detector stands to the operative I position shown at 23. in Fig. 1. The other two stands remain in inoperative position under the control of their springs 26.

A detecting member is slidably mounted on each detector stand and is yieldingly pressed rearwardby a coil spring 51. hen a detector 50 engages a full weft bobbin, the detector is forced directly forward in its detector stand, but when the detector 50 engages a substantially exhausted weft bobbin, the rear end of the detector slides along the bobbin to the right in Fig. l, causing corresponding movement of a slide 52 (Fig. 6), a link (Fig.1) and asliding plunger 54. The linl: 53 is connected to the slide 52 and to the plunger 54 by ball and socket joints to permit the necessary varying angular relations between the parts. The plungers 54 are mounted to slide in'a bearing 56 mounted upon the side of a slide 57 which may be con nected through an arm 58 to-a rock shaft 59 by which an indication of transfer may be communicated tothe weftreplenishing mechanism.

, A. second slide 60 is mounted-parallel to the slide 57 and isregularly'actuated through an arm 61 by actuating mechanism, not The slide. 6 0fgisp providedfwith a plungers may .be'projected whenever its corresponding detector 50 slides along asubstantially exhausted weft bobbin. When one of the plungers 54 is thus projected into the recess 62, the plunger is thereafter engaged by the rear wall of the recess as the slide 60 moves forward andthe slide 57isrgiven 41 against one of the rods 27, thus movingthe corresponding detector to operative position. By this swing ng movement of the stand the selected detector 50,1s'moved into engagement with the weft carrier in the corresponding shuttle and is moved directly forward in the stand for a full bobbin or is moved along the bobbin if the bobbin is exhausted. in the latter case, the-detector acts to project the corresponding plunger into the recess 62 of the slide 60 causing an indication of weft exhaustion.

36 is released and the detector stand return's yieldingly to inoperative posltion.

The normal'tendency of the springs 26 is to hold the rods 27 to the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in order to position the rods and the associated detectors 1 secure collars in adjusted position on the rods 27.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, 1 do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forthyin the claims, but what I claim is I 1. In a drop box loom having a-plurality of shifting shuttle boxes,in combination, a separate weft-detecting device for each of said shuttle boxes, said detecting devices being normally in inoperative position, selective means to move any one ofsaid devices to detecting position, and means to. indicate substantial weft exhaustion when detected thereby, said selective means being Opera'- tive and effective for each box inevery position of saidbox. i

2. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a

separate weft detector for each .of said shuttle boxes, yielding. means to move said detectors tonormal inoperative position, and selective means to move' a selected detector to detecting position, saidselective means being operative and efiective for each boxin every position of, said box-f a; In adrcp boxlloonihaving a plurality of shifting" shuttle boxes, in combina bn,

As the lay thereafter moves rearward, the cam arm separate Weft detector for each of said shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors, yielding means to move said stands and detectors to normal inoperative position and selective means to move a selected stand and detector to detecting position.

4. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a separate Weft shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors, and selective means to move a selected stand and detector to detecting position, said latter means being pattern-controlled in accordance With the indicated sequence of movements of the shuttle boxes.

5. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a separate Weft detector for each of said shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors pivotally mounted on said shifting shuttle boxes, means to swing a selected stand and detector toward its shuttle box to detecting position, and connections from said detectors to inclicate Weft replenishment upon substantial eit exhaustion.

6. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a Separate Weft detector for each of said shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors, sliding rods connected to move said stands, and an actuating element for said rods having a detector for each of said selective movement independent of the shuttle boxes but in accordance With the in dicated sequence of movement thereof.

7. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a separate Weft detector for each of said shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors, yielding means to move said stands and detectors to normal-inoperative position, sliding rods connected to said stands, andmeans to move a selected rod and stand, said means comprising an actuating device having a member selectively movable thereon to engaging position for a selected rod.

8. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes, in combination, a separate Weft detector for each of said shuttle boxes, stands for said detectors, yielding means to move said stands and detectors to normal inoperative position, sliding rods connected at one end to said stands by universal joints, swivel bearings on the loom frame for the opposite ends of said rods, and means selectively operative to engage a selected rod and push said rod endwise to move the associated stand to operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

ALBERT A. GORDON. 

